Reid returns, kneels for anthem

By The Associated Press

Eric Reid called his return to the NFL on Sunday “bittersweet,” saying it still hurts that his friend Colin Kaepernick has been “robbed” of his dream to play again in the NFL.

While the safety is back in the league playing for the Carolina Panthers, Kaepernick remains a free agent. Kaepernick filed a grievance against the league in October 2017 alleging teams have conspired to keep him out of the league because of his decision to protest racial and social injustice by kneeling during the national anthem.

“Any athlete in the NFL knows how hard you have to work to get here — and his career has been cut short,” Reid said after Carolina’s 33-31 home win against the New York Giants.

Reid, who signed as a free agent Sept. 27, continued his tradition of kneeling during the anthem. “I’ve always told myself when the time comes to stop kneeling, I will stop. But that time has not come.”

Jets

Defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers was not with the team for its game against the Denver Broncos because he is dealing with what coach Todd Bowles has called a “serious” illness. Neither Bowles nor the team provided any details on the illness sidelining Rodgers.

Giants

Odell Beckham Jr. said he spoke with his New York Giants teammates hours before Sunday’s 33-31 loss to the Carolina Panthers to clear the air over comments he made last week about quarterback Eli Manning and why the team isn’t throwing the ball farther downfield and playing with more energy. He said after the game that “sometimes stuff comes off the wrong way” and that “words can be portrayed in any kind of light.”